Activist warn stern protest if Parbati Thapa not promoted

KATHMANDU: Women activists have warned to launch stern protests if the ‘rightful promotion’ of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Parbati Thapa Magar to the post of Additional Inspector General (AIGP) is affected.

Activists affiliated to various women rights organization expressed concerns about Thapa’s promotion stating that the ‘male dominated state’ might deny rightful promotion to Thapa, while speaking at a press meet organized at the Reporters Club Nepal on Wednesday.
Concerns from these organizations come a month before the incumbent Inspector General of Police will retire. If not promoted to the post of AIGP, DIGP Thapa, who presently is the most senior in existing DIGs, will not be eligible to contend for the post of IGP.
Stating that there are no reasons to avert her from becoming the first female IGP of police, other than gender biasness, Sharada Pokhrel – President of Women Security Activist Group- warned that the state will have to face protests if Thapa is denied her right for being a female.
“We will move the court, international court and even will take to streets, if a women is denied a responsible position at the policy making level,” Pokhrel added.
Similarly, another speaker at the program, Durga Sob – President of Sankalp- warned to launch nationwide protest programs that will affect the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections.

Yashoda Timilsina, Vice President of Federation of Nepalese Journalists, argued that women’s participation at the decision making level has remained low despite the state’s commitment to secure 33 percent reservations. She stressed on the need to promote women’s participation in key decision making level and said that Thapa’s promotion will be landmark achievement for gender equality in Nepal.